Surgical arm rest and support therefor



April 1, 1941. E. E. LONGFELLOW SURGICAL ARM REST AND SUPPORT THEREFOR Filed Sept. '27, 1939 m m E V W.

Patented Apr. 1, 1941 SURGICAL ARM BEST AND SUPPORT THEREFOR Earl E. Longfellow, Warsaw, Ind., assignor to Harry Herschel Leiter, Warsaw, Ind.

Application September 27, 1939, Serial No. 296,829

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a surgical arm rest and support therefor, and an object thereof is to provide a portable appliance for securing the arm of a patient in a comfortable posture suitable for venoclysis or other treatment.

Another object of the invention is to afiord in connection with an arm rest a readily portable means for sustaining the arm rest in a definite position relative to the body of the patient while supine.

Other objects and advantages of the invention appear in the following description.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an arm rest in which the invention is incorporated as it appears when applied to a patient;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the arm rest and its supporting member, there being a dotted outline of the supporting member in one of its adjusted positions, a portion being broken away; and

Fig. 3 is a transverse section through one of the arm cradles.

The illustrative embodiment of the invention consists of a base bar 4 upon the outer end of which is secured a forearm cradle 5, and upon its opposite end a humerus cradle 6. Preferably, the concave face of each cradle has secured thereon a corresponding pad 5'B, and also arranged in connection with each cradle is arranged a securing strap 5"B by which to confine the forearm and humerus correspondingly in said cradles. The medial portion 1 of the base bar 4 between said cradles is arched downwardly thus to form a prop for said cradles when the arched portion is positioned upon the bed 8 as the patient lies supine thereon. Preferably, the base bar is made of metal of a character that is suificiently pliant as to admit of arching of the medial portion 1 thereof, more or less, by applying physical force thus to provide proper clearance for the elbow of the patient and adjust the relative angularity of the cradles as may be desired.

The rear end of the base bar 4 has an extension arm 9 pivoted thereto upon which arm is secured an anchor-plate II) the top of which preferably is provided with a pad H and constitutes a supporting member for the'arm rest. By swinging the supporting member upon its pivotal connection I2 relative to the base-bar the appliance is readily adjustable selectively for right or left hand use as may be required.

In use, the appliance is laid upon the bed with the anchor plate l0 positioned beneath the back of the patient where it is held by the weight of the patients body, the arm of the patient. right or left hand as it may be, according to adjustment of the anchor plate relative to the base bar, is then secured in the cradles by means of the straps 5-6" after which-treatment is adminisshifting to a more comfortable position, or even 'raising to a sitting posture, or leaving the bed entirely when such becomes permissible.

The invention may readily be embodied in a form adaptable to sustain other members of a patients body in a similar manner by substituting for the arm rest any other rest shaped to more appropriately fit the member to be sustained in a selected posture and connecting thereto an anchor plate of a size and shape best calculated to provide the required support for such rest when the plate is held in place on a bed by weight of a patients torso when lying thereon,

Variations of the particular construction of the appliance above disclosed may readily be made by exercise of engineering skill without departure from the spirit or scope of the invention, and the following claims are intended to be inclusive of such variations.

What I claim is:

l. A portable arm rest for use in surgery consisting of a base bar having secured upon its ends respectively a forearm cradle and humerus cradle, an extension arm pivoted to the end of said base bar adjacent said humerus cradle, a supporting member in connection with said arm adapted to be moved selectively to opposite lateral positions respecting the base bar, said base bar having a pliant downwardly arched medial portion between said cradles affording an adjustable prop therefor, and means in connection with each cradle whereby to secure therein the arm of the patient.

2. A portable arm rest for use in surgery, said arm rest having a base bar and arm-supporting cradles thereon, a medial portion of said base bar between said cradles being arched downwardly to afford a prop for said arm rest and being sufficiently pliant to admit of bending thereby to afiect the relative angularity of said cradles, and a supporting member p-ivotally connected to one end of said base bar adapted to be adjustably moved oppositely to lateral positions respecting the base bar whereby to sustain the arm rest in a selected position when said member is held upon a bed by a patient lying thereon.

' EARL E. LONGFEILOW. 

